Construction of the new instrument for assessment of adult and adolescence attachment

Abstract

This paper describes the development of new instrument for assessment of adult and adolescent attachment. An attempt has been made to integrate development-clinical and social personality models in attachment research, and to construct Questionnaire for Assessment of Adult and Adolescent Attachment (in original - UPIPAV). UPIPAV scales were developed on the basis of a) analysis of the critiques and deficiencies of available self-report instruments; b) characteristics of coding scales for AAI (Adult Attachment Interview); and c) theoretical analysis of relevant attachment phenomena. We present results of the research that brought us to the final form of the Questionnaire. The final form consists of six scales: fear of loss of external secure base, parent idealization, unresolved family traumatization, negative self concept, negative other concept and use of external secure base. The critical assessment of the Questionnaire and recommendations for further improvement are given at the end of the paper. The enhanced version of UPIPAV might have only four scales: self model, other model, use of the external secure base and the existence of the internal secure base.